History Of Skateboards

Skate-scoot your way round Singapore

FORGET mildew-covered musty books. The National Heritage Board and the Singapore Heritage Society's new skate-scooting tour is the new fun way to discover Singapore.

Tony Tan, founder of The Betelbox Hostel and Tours, is an experienced guide who will whizz you off on a four-hour skate scooter tour of iconic monuments around Singapore's civic and historic district, where you will learn about the nation's journey from a British colony to nationhood.

Three times faster than walking, the scooters - which resemble skateboards with bicycle handlebars - require similar balancing skills you need for cycling.

First-time skate scooter, 73-year-old Dr Chiang Hai Ding, a former history professor, had no problems at all. "I think it would stimulate the old guys and the old gals," he quipped with a cheeky flash in his eye, before scooting off on his skate scooter again.

While skate scooting around Singapore is fun, safety should not be overlooked. University professor Kevin Tan tripped over when his wheel got caught in a grill on Cavenagh Bridge that left him with an angry-looking gash on his nose.

Skate scooters came under fire in 2000 for being dangerous, and a public menace.

Sacramento Press / Riding Concrete: Skateboarding In California

Walking through a museum there is an expectation of seeing art, ancient artifacts and other historical memorabilia. The California Museum is switching up the idea of what a typical museum holds by introducing California to an important part of its history with a story that is not often told.

Behold the colors, wheels, art, big names, shapes and sizes. Riding Concrete: Skateboarding In California, is the new exhibit showing from July 2 through March 24, giving an up-close look at the California-created sport.

Located on 1020 O St. downtown, the exhibit is curated by the legendary skateboarder and surfer Nathan Pratt, who also co-stared in the “Dogtown and Z-Boys” documentary back in 2002.

“This is the first exhibit about skateboarding here at the museum, and the first one of a California-created sport that we are paying tribute to,” said Brenna Hamilton, communications director for the museum. “We try to tell stories that are not often told by other museums or even in history books.”

The exhibit is like a living timeline dating back to the 1950s with the wood plank and metal roller skate wheel models to the modern boards used today.

Who knew back in 1971 that 14-year-old Nathan Pratt working as a clean up boy in a Santa Monica Zephyr surf shop would one day change skateboarding forever – he and the other Z-Boys who came up with their own innovative and radical style.

“It's funny because there is a whole section of people in my life that know nothing about my skateboarding past. Then one day out of the blue they'll come up to me and be like 'I know a Z-Boy. My kid saw the whole documentary and were like 'Oh my god you know Nathan Pratt? He's a god, he's a legend,'” Pratt said.

According to Pratt the name 'Z-Boys' actually came from the “Zephyr Competition Team,” when the group of Z-Boys at the time were in a contest and the announcer kept having to say the full name over and over. They finally just got fed up and shortened it and its been the same ever since.

“This is the second showing of the exhibit. I did this exhibit down in Santa Monica at the California Heritage Museum about a year and a half ago, and that was the first time anything like that had ever been put together where something really encompasses every era of skateboard from the beginning to current,” said Pratt, 53, as he unloaded some final boards out of boxes.

More than 200 items lent from The Sidewalk Shop, Skatelab, Z-Boy Archive collections and other passionate collectors are on display.

Skateboarding History, From the Backyard to the Big Time

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Skateboarding Step-By-Step

Skateboarding, To the Extreme!

Enjoying skating